Steve Belcher, regional organiser of Unison, said: “What they’re doing by proposing these cuts is just restricting their own rate payers from accessing what should be a very good service.

“It’s a service that local authorities are obliged to provide. The communities rely on it and they value it much more than elected members understand.

“The effects, were they to implement these cuts, would not only be devastating to our members, but the members of the public who rely on library services.”

BCBC said despite library closures and changes to opening times, it will continue to provide a “modern library service that is fit for purpose”.

BCBC councillors met at the health and wellbeing overview and scrutiny committee meeting earlier this month to consider whether their budget cuts would meet Welsh Public Library Standards (WPLS).

A spokesman for BCBC said: “The most recent assessment of the council’s library service confirmed that the authority has achieved the national Welsh average score of nine out of 14 Welsh Library standards.

“As such, residents can be assured that it will continue to be very much a case of ‘business as usual’ for the library service in Bridgend county borough.

“We remain committed towards continuing to provide a modern library service that is fit for purpose.”